Apparatus for compacting and tying coils

ABSTRACT

Coil compacting and tying apparatus in which palettes supporting coils on an inclined axis are tilted for transfer of the coils to a tying unit on which the coils are supported in vertical alignment, the tying unit being movable first to a position under a compaction device and being operative to tie the compacted coils. The tying unit is additionally movable beyond the compaction device for transfer of the compacted and tied coils to a reception table for transfer to a discharge carriage.

United States Patent Glasson Nov. 25, 1975 [54] APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING AND 3,195,444 7/1965 McLean 100 7 TYING COILS 3,400.652 9/1968 Hill et 211.... 100/7 3,583,311 6/1971 Hill et 7.11.... 100/7 Inventor: J Emile s 3,710.711 1 1973 Boehm 100/7 Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France [73] Assignee: Botalam, Paris, France Primary Examiner 3my Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or FirmLa1ne, Aitken, Dunner & [22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1975 Ziems [21] Appl. No: 543,861

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priorit D t Coil compacting and tying apparatus in which palettes Feb. 6 1974 France 74.04004 Supporting Coils an inclined axis are tilted for trans fer of the coils to a tying unit on which the coils are 52 US. Cl. 100/7; 100/3- 100/12 Supported in "ettteel ehghmeht the tying heihg 100/26 movable first to a position under a compaction device 51 int. (:1? B65B 13/02 and hehtg Operative to tie the eemPeeted eeile- The 58 Field of Search 100/3 7, 12 26 tying is additionally thevehle heyehd the eethPee' tion device for transfer of the compacted and tied [56] References Cited coils to a reception table for transfer to a discharge UNITED STATES PATENTS carrage' 2,883,925 4/1959 Pritchard et a1. 100/3 x 5 filaims, 19 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet10f12 3,921,510

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US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING AND TYING COILS The present invention relates to apparatus for compacting and tying coils, especially coils of metal wire as supplied by steelworks, in which the coils to be tied are initially handled with their axes slightly tilted from the vertical and carried by means of suitable palettes moving on guide-ways.

In steelworks equipped with this kind of coil handling system, the operation of compacting and tying of the coils is carried out under the control of an operator, which naturally takes a considerable time and entails high labour costs.

The present invention seeks to overcome this 'disadvantage by providing apparatus capable of automatically compacting and tying coils handled thereby.

Although the present invention primarily concerns any novel integer or step, or combination of integers or steps, herein disclosed and/or shown in the accompanying drawings, neyertheless, according to one particular aspect of the present invention to which, however, the invention is in no way restricted, there is provided apparatus for compacting and tying coils, in which the coils to be tied are supported, with their axes slightly inclined to the vertical, on palettes movable along a guideway, and comprising a tying unit associated with a cooperating compacting unit, the two units being relatively movable between an aligned position in which the compacting means is operable to compact a coil supported by the tying unit, and a displaced position, at least one reception table positioned such that a palette can be moved off the guideway onto the reception table, and mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means for transferring a palette carrying a coil from the guideway on to the said table, means for turning the table about its pivotal axis so as to bring the coil on the palette to a position with its axis substantially vertical, conveyor means for transferring a coil, with its axis vertical, from the palette on the said table to a position within the said tying unit, when the tying unit and compacting unit are relatively displaced, and means for effecting relative movement of the tying unit and the compacting unit to effect alignment thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, the conveyor means comprise a vertically movable upright coil holder mandrel mounted on the tying unit and laterally displaceable with respect to the. said reception table, and drive means for raising this mandrel to an upper position in which it can penetrate axially into a coil on a palette on the reception table, the mandrel extending through openings in the palette and in the reception table, and for lowering the mandrel to a lower position after the coil has been laterally displaced from the pale ette and the reception table.

It will be appreciated that with such an arrangement the automatic introduction of coils into the tying unit presents absolutely no difficulty and is always accurately carried out. The apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to process the coils at a rate which is compatible with the production rate of a modern steelworks.

Preferably, the tying unit is movable, substantially horizontally, along guide rails, whilst the compacting unit and the reception table are positioned in respective fixed positions along the guide-rails, there being means for moving the tying unit along the guide rails between a position in which it is located below the reception table and a position in which it is located below the compacting unit with which it cooperates.

Alternativelythe tying unit could be fixed and the compacting unit and/or the reception table movable. The preferred arrangement, however, is more advantageous, since it lends itself to many variants which greatly increase the possible uses of such an installation.

For example there may be provided a second fixed table positioned on the side of the compacting unit re mote from the said reception table, so as to receive coils after they have been compacted by the compacting unit and tied by the tying unit. It will be appreciated that off-loading of the coils processed by the tying units is thus simply effected by proceeding in the same manner as for their introduction, that is by making use of the vertically movable coil holder mandrel, upon which each coil is directly compacted and tied.

Loaded palettes carrying a new coil to be processed can be brought in onto the reception table, whilst processed coils are placed on the second fixed table by means of the coil holder mandrel carried by the tying unit. This arrangement further increases the rate of operation of the apparatus.

Similarly the reception table, the compacting unit and the second table may be spaced from one another by such distance that the tying unit can be positioned, between the compacting unit and either table in order to effect raising or lowering of the coil-carrying mandrel.

This arrangement allows a reduction in height of th compacting unit as well as in the stroke of its control means, which is of especial interest in the case of hydraulic actuators.

One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall diagrammatic view of a compacting and tying apparatus for coils, constructed as anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view on an enlarged scale of the tying unit, with the coil-bearing mandrel in the raised position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tying unit, in position under the compacting unit;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tying unit;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the tying unit and the compacting unit;

FIG. 6 is a sectionalview of a loaded palette in place on the reception table;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the reception table as seen in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view from above on an enlarged scale of the whole apparatus; and

FIGS. 9 to 19 are diagrammatic views similar to FIG. 1, showing the apparatus in various successive operating stages.

It should be noted first of all that the compacting and tying apparatus according to the inventiomshown as a whole in FIG. 1, is designed to process metal wire coils 1, as supplied by the steelworks. Moreover, in the arrangement envisaged, the coils 1 from the steelworks are carried on suitable palettes 2, with their axes slightly tilted from the vertical so as to rest on an upright part of the palette to keep them stable. The palettes 2 are carried on carriages 4 which move along guide-ways, which in the embodiment illustrated consist of rails 3; the palettes 2 are supported on the carriages 4 by means of rollers 5.

The apparatus consists of a tying unit 6 of the vertical type which is mounted so as to be able to move horizontally within a rectangular pit 7. For this purpose, the tying unit 6 is carried on four wheels 8 which roll on two horizontal guide-rails 9, arranged within the pit 7. Movement of the tying unit 6 along these guide-rails is effected by suitable drive means, not shown, such as an electric motor, an hydraulic actuator or an hydraulic motor.

The tying unit 6 is associated with a cooperating compacting unit 10, also of the vertical type, but which is mounted fixed over a central part of the pit 7, in a manner to be described later in more detail.

At one end of the pit 7 there is a reception table 11, at an appropriate height to receive loaded palettes 2 from carriages 4 on the guide-way 3 which guide the carriages 4 therepast. The reception table 11 overhangs the "pit'7 and is moreover pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 12, for a reason which will become clearer later. Additionally, it is provided on its upper surface with rollers 13, possibly driving rollers, arrangedwith their axes in the same direction as the rollers of the conveyor carriage 4, that is, parallel to the rails 3 so as to facilitate transfer of a loaded palette from a carriage 4.onto the reception table 11.

At the opposite end of the pit 7 there is a second table 14, positioned to receive coils after they have been compacted and tied. This second table is identical withthe first and similarly has rollers, 15 on its upper surface, but unlike the table 13, it is completely fixed. Next to the second table 14 there is a second pair of rails 16 upon which there travels a carriage 17, similar to thecarriage 4, for removing processed coils therefrom. I

The tying unit 6 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 to 4 and includesfour guide channels 18 of known type, placed at 90 to one another, for the fastening wire. The guide channels 18 are designed to surround completely a compacted coil, as shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, in order to allow introduction of the coil into the inside, the upper. part of each of these channels consists in fact of a movable crescent section 19, capable of pivoting around a fixed axis 20 under the action of an hydraulic actuator 21.

The guide channels 18 are, of course, connected to conventional tying means, not illustrated, for fastening and twisting a fastening wire, as well as feed means for this fastening wire, only a part of which has been shown diagrammatically at 22.

The tying unit 6 is also fitted with conveyor means for transferring a coil 1 carried by a palette 2 positioned on the reception table 11, to a position inside the tying unit between the guide channels 18. This conveyor means consists essentially of a cruciform section coil holder mandrel 23 mounted so as to be vertically movable with respect to the tying unit 6, on an axial rod 24 which is vertically movable in two spaced bearings 25 and 26. The lower bearing 25 is placed at the level of a platform 27 supporting the whole tying unit 6, whereas the upper bearing 26 is supported above the guide channels 18 by two supports 28 fixed on to the said platform 7.

The mandrel 23 consists of four vertical supports 29 fixed at their upper end to the upper end of the rod 24 and at their lower end to a cruciform base plate 30 which in its turn is fixed to the rod, and which supports a coil 1 when it is carried by the mandrel 23. It should be remarked that opposite pairs of the four supports 29 are positioned so as to be spaced by the same distance as the inner diameter of the coil, and that the length of the arms of the baseplate 30 is greater than the outer diameter of the coil. Thus, when the coil is fitted on to the mandrel it is held perfectly in position.

In the embodiment illustrated a drive device 31 driving a pinion 32 engaged with a rack 33 provided along the rod 24 is provided in order to effect vertical movement of the rod 24 and thus of the mandrel 23.

The compacting unit 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. As can be seen from these Figures, this unit comprises a carriage 34 which can move vertically, by means of rollers 36 rolling in guide rails 37, on a gantry frame 35 which rests on both sides of the pit 7 so as to allow passage of the tying unit 6. The carriage 34, which consists of an annular plunger having four slits 38 to allow the passage of the four guide channels 18, operates in a known manner, for example controlled by an hydraulic actuator, not illustrated.

On either side of the pit 7 are blocks 39 which are positioned adjacent the compacting unit 10 for the purpose of supporting the platform 27 of the tying unit during a compacting operation, the wheels 8 being as sembled upon spring gear, not illustrated, to avoid excess strain on the wheels 8.

The reception table 11, shown in detail in FIGS. 6 to 8 overhangs the pit 7 and is supported by two parallel struts 40, pivoted at one end to brackets 41 on the lower surface of the table 11 adjacent the edge 42 thereof remote from the pivot 12 (this edge being termed hereinafter the front edge), and at the other end to brackets 43 carried by a chassis 44, movable vertically under the control of an actuator 45 and guided by means of rollers 46 in slides 47 fixed on to the end wall 48 of the pit 7. By virtue of this arrangement, the table 11 is able to turn about the horizontal axis 12 between a horizontal position in which the axis of the coil 1 is slightly tilted from the vertical and a tilted position permitting the coil to be brought back to the vertical so that the mandrel 23 is able to enter the coil when it is raised.

A holding cradle 50 pivotally carried on a vertical rod 52 borne by a frame 53 fixed on the table, and controlled by an actuator 51, is provided to surround a coil before it is compacted to ensure stability of the coil when its axis is vertical and before the mandrel 23 is inserted into it.

With reference to FIG. 8 it will be seen that the table 11 has a cruciform opening 54 to allow passage of the mandrel 23 and its base-plate 30 when they move vertically: one limb 55 of this opening is formed as a slot in the front edge 42 of the table 11 so as to allow lateral movement of the rod 24 and thus permit horizontal movement of the tying unit 6 towards the compacting unit 10. It should also be noted that the palette 2, also shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8, has an opening the shape of which is the same as the opening 54 and is so constructed that it overlaps the latter when the rollers 13 bring the palette against the stops 56 provided on the front edge 42 of'the table.

The second table 14 also has a cruciform opening 57 therein to allow the mandrel 23 of the tying unit 6 to carry a coil onto it and subsequently to withdraw downwardly.

It will also be seen from FIG. 8 that the length of the pit 7 is so chosen that the tying unit 6 can be located at two intermediate positions 58 and 59 (shown by broken lines) between the position under the compacting unit 10 and the positions under each of the tables 11 and 14.

The apparatus described above operates as follows:

Starting with the tying unit 6 and the carriage 4 in the position shown in FIG. 1 the rollers 5 and 13 are driven so as to bring a palette 2 onto the table 11 until it abuts against the stops 56 provided on the table 11. Then, as soon as the palette is in place, the holding cradle 50 is closed so as to ensure stability of the coil, and the actuator 45 is operated in order to cause the table 11 to pivot downwards around the axis 12 until the axis of the coil is brought to the vertical position shown in FIG. 9.

The axis of the coil 1 is now in alignment with that of the tying unit, and the motor 31 is driven so as to raise the mandrel 23 into the upper position shown in FIG. 10. During this movement the mandrel 23 penetrates into the coil 1 passing through the opening 54 in the table 11 and the corresponding opening of the palette 2; when it reaches its uppermost position it raises the coil from the palette. The holding cradle 50 is then opened and the tying unit 6 moved along the rails 9 until it reaches the intermediate position 58, as shown in FIG. 11. The mandrel disengages without difficulty from the table 11 and from the palette 2, since the openings in these communicate with the front edge permitting lateral displacement of the rod 24.

When the tying unit 6 reaches its intermediate position 58, the mandrel 23 is lowered so as to introduce the coil 1 into its position in the tying unit (FIG. 12), then the table 11 is returned to its horizontal position and the palette is returned on to the carriage 4 by driving the rollers 13 in reverse. During this operation the tying unit 6 is again moved until it comes to a position immediately below the compacting unit 10.

When the two units 6 and 10 of the apparatus are in the position shown in FIG. 13, the compacting and tying of the coil 1 is effected. In order to do this, the carriage 34 of the compacting unit is lowered (FIG. 4) and then the crescent sections of the four guide channels 18, which surround the compacted coil 1, are closed by operation of the actuators 21 and the wires which are to form the ligatures are introduced into the channels. Finally the ends of these wires are twisted together. During the tying operation, the carriage 4, with the empty palette 2 is removed, making way for a new carriage 4a with a further coil la to move into position subsequently.

In order to extract the processed coil 1, the carriage 34 is raised as shown in FIG. 15, then the means for moving the tying unit 6 is energised so that the latter moves into its intermediate position 59 (FIG. 16).

During this time another carriage 4a carrying a palette 2a loaded with another coil la is moved into position adjacent the table 11.

The tying unit, when in the position 59, once again raises the mandrel 23, as shown in FIG. 17, to withdraw the processed coil 1 from the tying unit 6..

At the same time the rollers 5a and 13 are driven to bring the new palette 2a up against the stops 56 on the reception table 11.

When these different operations are completed the tying unit 6 is again moved so that it carries the processed coil 1 over the second table 14, the mandrel 23 being able to penetrate into the cruciform opening 57 of the table 14. During this time the holding cradle 50 is closed around the new coil la (FIG. 18).

Next the mandrel is lowered to place the coil 1 upon the rollers 15 of the table 14 and when the mandrel is completely withdrawn into the tying unit the table 11 is tilted as shown in FIG. 19.

After this the tying unit 6 is finally brought back under the reception table 11 and the rollers of the table 14 and of the carriage 17 are operated so as to remove the processed coil 1.

The apparatus is now ready to process the new coil la with the same sequence of operations.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for compacting and tying coils, in which the coils to be tied are supported, with their axes slightly inclined to the vertical, on palettes movable along a guide-way, and comprising a tying unit associated with a cooperating compacting unit, the two units being relatively movable between an aligned position in which the compacting means is operable to compact a coil supported by the tying unit, and a displaced position, at least one reception table positioned such that a palette can be moved off the guide-way onto the reception table, and mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means for transferring a palette carrying a coil from the guide-way on to the said table, means for turning the table about its pivotal axis so as to bring the coil on the palette to a position with its axis substantially vertical, conveyor means for transferring a coil, with its axis vertical, from the palette on the said table to a position within the said tying unit, when the tying unit and compacting unit are relatively displaced, and means for effecting relative movement of the tying unit and the compacting unit to effect alignment thereof.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the conveyor means comprise a vertically movable upright coil holder mandrel mounted on the tying unit and laterally displaceable with respect to the said reception table, and drive means for raising this mandrel to an upper position in which it can penetrate axially into a coil on a palette on the reception table, the mandrel extending through openings in the palette and in the reception table, and for lowering the mandrel to a lower position after the coil has been laterally displaced from the palette and the reception table.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the tying unit is movable, substantially horizontally, along guiderails, whilst the compacting unit and the reception table are positioned in respective fixed positions along the guide-rails, there being means for moving the tying unit along the guide-rails between a position in which it is located below the reception table and a position in which it is located below the compacting unit with which it cooperates.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further including a second fixed table positioned on the side of the compacting unit remote from the said reception table, so as to receive coils after they have been compacted by the compacting unit and tied by the tying unit.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the reception table, the compacting unit and the second table are spaced from one another by such a distance that the tying unit can be positioned between the compacting unit and either table in order to effect raising or lowering of the coil-carrying ma ndrgl. 

1. Apparatus for compacting and tying coils, in which the coils to be tied are supported, with their axes slightly inclined to the vertical, on palettes movable along a guide-way, and comprising a tying unit associated with a cooperating compacting unit, the two units being relatively movable between an aligned position in which the compacting means is operable to compact a coil supported by the tying unit, and a displaced position, at least one reception table positioned such that a palette can be moved off the guide-way onto the reception table, and mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means for transferring a palette carrying a coil from the guide-way on to the said table, means for turning the table about its pivotal axis so as to bring the coil on the palette to a position with its axis substantially vertical, conveyor means for transferring a coil, with its axis vertical, from the palette on the said table to a position within the said tying unit, when the tying unit and compacting unit are relatively displaced, and means for effecting relative movement of the tying unit and the compacting unit to effect alignment thereof.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the conveyor means comprise a vertically movable upright coil holder mandrel mounted on the tying unit and laterally displaceable with respect to the said reception table, and drive means for raising this mandrel to an upper position in which it can penetrate axially into a coil on a palette on the reception table, the mandrel extending through openings in the palette and in the reception table, and for lowering the mandrel to a lower position after the coil has been laterally displaced from the palette and the reception table.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the tying unit is movable, substantially horizontally, along guide-rails, whilst the compacting unit and the reception table are positioned in respective fixed positions along the guide-rails, there being means for moving the tying unit along the guide-rails between a position in which it is located below the reception table and a position in which it is located below the compacting unit with which it cooperates.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further including a second fixed table positioned on the side of the compacting unit remote from the said reception table, so as to receive coils after they have been compacted by the compacting unit and tied by the tying unit.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the reception table, the compacting unit and the second table are spaced from one another by such a distance that the tying unit can be positioned between the compacting unit and either table in order to effect raising or lowering of the coil-carrying mandrel. 